Window operator



Oct. 11, 1960 R. H. wlsE wmnow OPERATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 22, 1956 .E MS Tl NW. rVLH mw A R Oct. 11, 1960 R. H. WISE wINDow OPERATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22. 1956 INVENTOR. RALPH H.W| SE Oct. l1, 1960 R. H. wlsE 2,955,816

WINDOW OPERATOR Filed May 22. 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IO f ' 44 |oa- "-/42 43 #i m m E E 24" 4 35m E L 33a l H 27a, 2305 l3b 9 2% P 27 3| 1 22 '2a INVENTOR.

RALPH H. WISE United States WINDOW PERATQR Filed May 22, 1956, Ser. No. 586,532

9 Claims. (Cl. 2684-124) The present invention relates to mounting apparatus and, more particularly, to apparatus for resiliently mounting a threaded member having a motion-transmitting nut assembly with respect to a support for the member and to a work load to be carried by the nut assembly.

This application is a continuation-in-part of prior pending applications, Serial No. 390,010, iiled November 3, 1953, and Serial No. 391,851, filed November 13, 1953, both of which have been abandoned. The latter two applications are, in turn, continuations-in-part of a still prior application Serial No. 354,191, led May l1, 1953, which has now issued as Patent No. 2,714,004.

On example of a threaded member and nut assembly of the type referred to is a window lift or regulator for a vehicle door. Ordinarily, the door comprises spaced panels having aligned, substantially rectangular openings at one end. The window and regulating apparatus are mounted between the panels. The threaded member or shaft extends vertically of the door and the nut assembly rides the shaft while supporting a window, representing a work load, so that rotation of the shaft vertically reciprocates the window in and out of the panel openings.

In prior window lifts or regulators embodying this general arrangement, there has been considerable metal-tometal contact, resulting not only in a noisy operation but providing undue wear, shocks, and backlash on the component parts of the entire assembly. The present apparatus overcomes these faults. My mounting provides a quiet operation and prolongs the useful life of the parts by substantially eliminating the customary wear occurring when metal strikes metal. Addtionally, the structure of the present apparatus is simplified by supporting the threaded shaft at one and directly on a power unit so that auxiliary supporting means is eliminated.

The quiet operation and prolonged life provided by the present mounting apparatus are realized by resiliently insulating the ends of the threaded shaft from its supports and driving the shaft through one of the resilient insulators. Similarly, the work load is resiliently carried relatively to the nut member of the nut assembly. Accordingly, the only metal-to-metal contact attendant the rotating and power-transmitting shaft in the present invention is the actual and necessary contact between the nut member of the assembly and the threads of the shaft. The whirling noise of a rotating shaft is also eliminated when the window or other workload reaches either of its extreme positions of axial travel, since the driving means at the power unit of the present invention is permitted to freewheel or rotate relatively to the threaded shaft at such times.

Additionally, in recent years the trend in automative design has been to doors having a slightly curved contour, particularly at the lower end, to conform with the curvature of a side of the vehicle body. The present mounting apparatus is readily adapted for use in such a door. The power unit may be mounted adjacent the bottom of the door so that, because of the curvature, the longitudinal axis of the driving means is angularly related to a arent longitudinal axis of the threaded shaft. A flexible connector which is supported atop the power unit joins the driving means and the threaded shaft.

In one form, the present invention comprises a power unit mounted on a door panel adjacent the lower end of the threaded shaft. A coupling, supported atop the power unit for a driving connection therewith, receives the lower end of the shaft. The driving connection between the coupling yand the power unit depends on frictional contact which can be overcome by back forces, such as when a nut member reaches one end of its travel along the threaded shaft, so that the power unit continues to operate although the coupling is at complete rest. Resilient means such as rubber is interposed' between the coupling and the shaft to maintain these parts out of contact with each other while transmitting a driving motion from the coupling to the shaft. Since the resilient material is capable of distortion, it also absorbs the shocks of backlash and the like exerted along the shaft. Resilient stops are carried by the power unit yand spaced laterally of the shaft to engage the nut assembly and limit axial movement of the nut member and assembly along the shaft toward the power unit. Another coupling is suitably mounted for rotation on a door panel adjacent the upper end of the shaft and resiliently receives that end by means y of elastic material similarly interposed between the coupling and the shaft. Suitable fasteners secure the nut member to an arm forming part lof the nut assembly and supporting a window. Tubular resilient insulators encase the fasteners to prevent direct metal Contact between the arm and the nut member. The fasteners terminate at the lower ends in stops which engage the resilient arrestors at the power unit.

The'accompanying drawings illustrate a presently preferred embodiment wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational View, partially broken away, of the inner side of -a vehicle door and shows the application of the present invention to a window lift;

Figure 2 is a section of Figure 1 on the line II-H;

Figure 3 is an enlarged View of the upper end of a shaft of Figure l and illustrates a mounting for that end of the shaft and a nut assembly engaging the shaft and supporting a window;

Figure 4 is a section of Figure 3 on the line IV-IV;

Figure 5 is an enlarged View of the lower end of the shaft of Figure 1 and shows a power unit having driving means, supported in a canted position relative to that end of the shaft, and means resiliently coupling the driving means and shaft;

Figure 6 is a side view of Figure 5 and illustrates the manner by which a door panel carries the power unit and in which the coupling between the shaft and the driving means of the power unit and a connector adapted to permit freewheeling or relative rotation are shown in section; and

Figure 7 is a section of Figure 6 o-n the line Vil-VII.

Referring to the drawings, the embodiment disclosed includes -a threaded shaft 10 mounted between spaced panels 11 and 12 of a door D and rotated by a power unit such as a reversible electric motor 13. A nut assembly generally indicated at 14 and including a nut member 15 and a bracket 16 axially travels along the shaft 10 upon its rotation. The bracket 16 supports and vertically reciprocates a window 17 in guide channels 18 in and out of an opening 19, defined by the panels 11 and 12, in accordance with the axial travel of the nut assembly 14' along the shaft 10.

The shaft 10 is resiliently mounted atop the motor 13 and with respect to the panel 12. The shaft is also driven through a resilient coupling adapted to absorb the shocks of backlash and the like. Additionally, the nut member 15 and bracket 16 are resiliently buffered from one another to prevent direct metal-to-metal contact and thereby assist in absorbing the jars and shocks to the window 17, all of which contribute to a smooth and quiet operation with a minimum o f wear on the parts. ,'Further, when the window 17 is at the lower extremity of its vertical reciprocation, resilient stops ,20 mounted adiacent and atop the motor 13 quietly engage the nut member 15 to limit yfurther travel along the shaft. Still further, when the window 17 is at either end of its verticalrreciprocation, the drive means ofthe motor ,'13 freewheels within a connector generally shown at 21 to permit the shaft to come to a complete rest, thereby further insuring a quiet operation.

Considering the foregoing features in detail, the lower end of the panels 11 and 12 curve inwardly (Figure 2) in accordance with more Vrecent styling trends, and a ledge 12a of panel 12 extends across to panel 11. A bracket 22 bolted to the ledge 12a is similarly fastened to one Vend of the motor housing to support the motor 13 and the lower end of shaft 10. A U-shaped bracket 23 has ears 23a bolted to ears 13a at the other end of the motor. A bight portion of U-shaped bracket 23 is attached to a bight portion of still another U-shaped bracket 24, the latter being canted with respect to bracket 23 and paralleling the length of shaft 10. The resilient stops20 are secured to flanges 24a of this bracket, and a retainer plate 25 having an opening to pass the shaft 10 engages the edges of the flanges 24a to prevent them from spreading under the impact of the nut assembly 14.

The driving means of the motor 13 and the lower end of the shaft 10 are resiliently connected. A drive shaft 26 (Figure 6) of the motor 13 extends from a boss 13b around which isV suitably fixed the connector 21. This -member, designed to permit the drive shaft 26 to rotate independently of the threaded shaft 10 in spite of their normally driving connection, is described and claimed in my copending lapplication, Serial No. 552,797, entitled Motion-Transmitting Device. In the present embodiment, the connector 21 includes Va casing 27 fixed relatively to the motor 13 and housing an inner race 28 and an outer race 29. A pin P'secures the inner race 28 to the drive shaft 26. 'I'he outer race is split into parts 29a and 29b. A plurality of rotatable elements 30 having radially enlarged bearing surfaces 30a and 30b seat in both races which are provided with grooves orrecesses to receive the bearing surfaces. A spring 31 concentric with the shaft 26 urges part 29b of the outer race into tween the coupling 42 and end 10a of the shaftand transmits the torque of the coupling to the shaft. To strengthen the coupling, the end 10a may have a .tightfitting collar 44 with outwardly turned ends 44a which Y' relative movement between the couplingv42 and shaft 10,

thereby absorbing backlash, the jars of sudden stops, and the like. Y

The upper end of shaft 10 is elastically mounted with respect to the panel 12 and also rotates within a resilient coupling. A bracket 45 fixed to the panel 12 has ilanges 45a extending toward the shaft 10. Rivets 46 x a mounting plate 47 to the flanges 45a but are insulated from direct contact with the plate 47 by resilient grommets 48. Washers 49 fixed relatively to the rivets 46 limit the free1movement of the mounting platev 47"and grommets 48 along the Shanks ofthe rivets 46.M The plate 47 Vcarries a pin or shaft 50, preferably free to rotate with respect to the plate, having an enlarged head 50a which may also rotate relatively to the pin 50. A spacer bearing sleeve 51 and a thrustbearing 52 encompass the pin 50 and head 50a, and a cap 53Ysecures a tubular coupling 54 to the bearing sleeveSl and thrust Vbearing 52. Coupling 54 is similar to coupling 42 and has a uted, tapered periphery to receive a splined end 10b of the shaft. A resilient annulus 55 is interposedl between the coupling 54 and shaft end 10b, and a sleeve 56 which tightly fits onthe end 10b hasroutwardly turned ends 56a to grip the annulus 55 as before. The structure ofthe nut member 15 is not critical Vto the invention. The nut members disclosed in my Patents 2,714,004 and 2,714,005 may, for example, be employed. ln the embodiment disclosed, the nut member comprises a pair of mounting plates 57 and 60 secured Vtogether and having offset medial portions 57a vand 60a, respectively.`

frictional contact with the bearing surfaces 30b and v.

A tubular cage 32, representing the output ele-Y tion on their own axes within the offset portions and have radially enlarged areas to engage the thread of shaftrl() as the shaft rotates and thereby thrust the nut assembly 14 along the s haft. Regardless of the type of nut member used, suitable fasteners such as rivets 59 secure the plates 57 and 60 to the L-shaped bracket 16. Tubular resilient insulators A671 encase therrivets 59 to prevent direct contact between the rivets and the ange 16a of the bracket. The rivets terminaterat the lower ends in stops 62 which engage Vthe resilient arrestors 20 on bracket 24. Flange 16a of the bracket has a slot 16b to pass the shaft 10, while ange 16a` is bolted to a channel 63, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The upper edge of channel 63 is fixed to a second channel 64 which receives the lower edge of the window V17in resilient material 65.

and is held against axial movement by a flange portion n battery. Rotation of shaft 10.prope'ls the nut .assembly In practice, a reversible switch 66 and control 67 e11- ergize the motor 13 through conductors 68 to drive the motor in either direction in -aknown manner. Conductor 8aextendsthrough a hinge of the door tothe car 14 and window 17 up or down, depending upon the direction of rotation. Because of the resilient mountings and the resiliently transmitted drive'of the motor 13, the operation ofthe apparatus ris very quiet. Upon-lowering the window, thevstops 62 strike the resilient arrestors 20 37 to secure them together, and `the cable is similarly shaft. The coupling 42 has a generally iluted and tapering periphery as shown in Figures 6 and 7. A resilient annulus 43Y composed, for example, of rubber ts be 26 relative -to the shaft 10 occurs since, at the oppositepoints or stations ofextremev travel along the shaft 10,

the resistance to rotation of the shaft exceeds the fric tional contactof the outer race parts 29a and 2917 on the rotatable elements 30 as exerted by the spring 31. Accordingly, the driving connection is broken, and while the shaft is at rest the drive shaft 26 continues to rotate uninterruptedly. During this freewheeling, the bearing elements 30 may simply rotate on their own axes or slide with respect to the drive shaft 26 without planetating thereabout. The bearing elements 30 do not engagethe outer race 29 with sufficient frictional contact to cause planetation about the shaft 26 with consequent rotation of the cage member 32 and cable 36.

Although the foregoing disclosure describes a presently preferred embodiment, it is understood that the invention may be practiced in still other forms Within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In regulating means including a helically threaded Y member, a nut member adapted to travel axially along the threaded member, the improvements of a power unit stationed adjacent one end of the threaded member and having output driving means, a coupling carried by the driving means and adapted resiliently to receive said adjacent end of the threaded member, means for permitting relative rotation between the driving means and threaded member when said threaded member is overloaded, a mounting stationed adjacent the other end of the threaded member, said mounting including a rst rotatable resiliently mounted member and a second coaxial member rotatably mounted thereon, said threaded member being resiliently connected to said second member for rotation therewith, a support iixed to the nut member and extending laterally therefrom to engage a work load and carry it axially along the threaded member in accordance with said axial travel of the nut member, and resilient means insulating the support and nut member from direct contact with one another.

2. In regulating means for varying the position of a work load along a threaded shaft including a nut member to ride the shaft and effect said variation, the improvements providing a quiet and substantially shock-free operation comprising a power unit having a drive shaft, a bearing mounted with respect to the power unit to receive the drive shaft, a coupling on the drive shaft telescopically receiving the threaded shaft, resilient means interposed between the coupling and the threaded shaft to maintain said parts out of contact while transmitting a driving motion to the threaded shaft, a second coupling mounted for rotation and telescopically receiving the other end of the threaded shaft, additional resilient means interposed between the second coupling and the threaded shaft to maintain these parts out of direct contact, a bracket member attached to the nut member at points on opposite sides of said shaft and extending laterally thereof to engage the work load, and a resilient member at each point of attachment shielding the bracket member and nut member from direct contact with one another.

3. In a window regulator including a threaded shaft, a nut assembly comprising a nut member adapted to travel the shaft and a support xed to the nut member and carrying the window, the improvements providing a quiet, smooth operation substantially free of jarring impacts comprising a power unit stationed adjacent one end of the threaded shaft and having an output drive shaft, a bracket mounted on the power unit and journaling the drive shaft, a tubular coupling xed to the drive shaft and receiving an end of the threaded shaft, resilient means interposed between the coupling and the threaded shaft to maintain them out of contact while transmitting a driving motion to the threaded shaft, resilient stop means mounted on said bracket and adjacent said one end of the threaded shaft, a second tubular coupling journaled for rotation adjacent the other end of the threaded shaft and adapted to receive said other end, resilient means interposed between the second tubular coupling and the threaded shaft to maintain them out of direct contact, and resilient means shielding the nut member from direct u 6 contact at any point with the support, said stop means engaging the nut assembly to limit axial movement thereof along the threaded shaft toward the power unit.

4. In a window regulator for a vehicle door panel having an opening at one end and a laterally curved portion at the opposite end, a threaded shaft disposed substantially vertically along the panel, a nut member for axial travel along the threaded shaft and having outwardly extending flange portions, and a support attached to the ilange portions and carrying the window for reciprocal movement in and out of said panel opening, the improvements providing a quiet operation substantially free of jarring impacts, comprising a power unit having an output shaft secured relatively to the panel adjacent the laterally curved portion to dispose'a longitudinal axis of the output shaft angularly to the longitudinal axis of the threaded shaft, a U-bracket having its legs mounted on the power unit and having its bight canted and provided with bearing means aligned with said threaded shaft, a flexible cable connected with the output shaft and carried in the bearing means, said cable terminating in a tubular coupling to receive the lower end of the threaded shaft, resilient means interposed between said lower end of the threaded shaft and the tubular coupling to maintain them out of contact while transmitting a driving motion to the threaded shaft, a second bracket mounted atop the first and having resilient arresting means extending laterally of the shaft, an additional shaft mounted on the panel for rotation and having a second tubular coupling to receive the upper end of the threaded shaft, resilient means interposed between the second tubular coupling and said upper end to maintain saidparts out of direct contact, and fasteners to effect the securing of the support to the nut member, said fasteners extending through the llange portions and the support and having tubular resilient insulators interposed between the fasteners and said support to elastically join the support and flange portions, said fasteners terminating at their lower ends in stops to engage the resilient arrestors on the second `bracket and thereby limit axial movement of the nut member along the threaded shaft toward the power unit.

5. In regulating means for varying the position of a work load along a threaded shaft including a nut member to ride the shaft and effect said variation, the im- `pling on the drive-transmitting means receiving the threaded shaft, resilient means interposed between the coupling and the threaded shaft to maintain said parts out of contact while transmitting a driving motion to the threaded shaft, a second coupling mounted for rotation and telescopically receiving the other end of the threaded shaft, additional resilient means interposed between the second coupling and the threaded shaft to maintain these parts out of direct contact, a member attached to the nut member at a plurality of points and extending laterally thereof to engage the work load, and a resilient member at each point of attachment shielding the arm and nut member from direct contact with one another.

6. ln regulating means for varying the position of a work load between opposite extreme positions along a threaded shaft including a nut member to ride the shaft and effect said variation, the improvements providing a quiet and substantially shock-free operation comprising a power unit having a drive shaft, a bearing mounted with respect to the power unit, connecting shaft means journaled in the bearing, a connector joining the connecting shaft means and the drive shaft, said connector inbetween the tubular coupling and the threaded shaft t0.

maintain them out of contact While transmitting a driving motion to the threaded shaft, a support plate resiliently' mounted adjacent the other end of the threaded shaft, a secondv tubular coupling mounted for rotation in the support plate and receiving said other end of the threaded shaft, additional elastomeric means interposed between the vsecond coupling and the threaded shaft to maintain these parts out of direct contact, a bracket member attached to the nut member at a plurality of points and eX- t'endinglaterally thereof to engage the work load, and an elastomeric member at each point of attachment shielding the bracket member and nut member from direct metal-to-metal contact with one another.

7. An operator for a motor vehicle window pane mounted to be moved up and down in a door having one or more panels, the lower portion of which is bowed vertically, comprising a rotary motor having means at one end cushioningly mounting the same in the lower Vportion of the door with the motor axis extending upwardly along the panel, there being diametrical lugs upon the upper endof the motor casing, an inverted U-shaped bracket 'of strap material having its legs formed with ears secured to said lugs, the bight of said bracket being canted to lie normal to the plane of movement of said pane, said bight being provided with an opening, a bearing ring mounted in said opening, drive means between said motor and said ring including an impositive transmissionY unit vibration insulated from the motor shaft, a flexible drive element leading therefrom to said bearing ring, a member rotatably mounted in said ring with its lower end connected to said exible element, a vertically disposed helically threaded shaft having its lower end connected through elastomeric material to said member the upper end of said shaft being mounted by means of a coupling cushioned to said panel and including a rotata'ble element connected to said shaft through elastomeric material, a nut assembly threadedly engaging said shaft,

' and a support connected to said nut through elastomeric cushioning and fixed to the lower edge of said pane.

-8. An operator for a motor vehicle Window paneV or more panels the lower portion of which is bowed vertically, comprising a rotary motor having means cushioningly mounting the same in the'rlower portion of the door with the motorraxis extendingupwardly along the panel, anV inverted U-shaped lbracket, of strap material having its legs secured to the upper portion of theY motor casing, the bight of said bracket being canted to be normal to the plane of movement of said pane, said bight being formed withran opening, a second U-shaped bracket having its bight resting upon thebight of the rst bracket Y and having an opening registering with the opening Vof the first bracket, a tubular bearing member arranged in the openings of said brackets Vand clamping them together, a plate bridging and secured to theends` of the second bracket, said plate being formed with an opening registering with said bearing member, drive meansbetween said motor and said bearing member including an impositive transmission unit vibration insulated from the motor shaft and a flexible drive, element leading therefrom to said bearing member, a member rotatably Y mounted in said bearing member with its lower end A'connected t-o said flexible element, a vertically disposed heli-` cally threaded shaft having its lower end passing through the opening in and supported 'by said plate, a coupling including elastomeric material disposed betweenY said plate and the bight of the secondrbrracket and connecting said shaft and the rotatable member, the upper end of said shaft being mounted by means of a coupling cushioned to said panel and including a rotatable element connected to said shaft through elastomeric material, a nut assembly on said shaft, and a Vsupport connected to said nut through cushioning material and fixed-to the lower edge of said pane. Y,

Y 9. The apparatus of claim 8 further including resilient stops for said nut mounted von either end of said plate.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,892,037 Crews Dec. 27, 1932 2,046,725 Carr i... July 7, 1936 2,124,037 Lavigne July 19, 1938 2,174,168 Rattray Sept. 26, 1939 2,314,970 Coleman Mar.,30, 1943 2,547,851 Brundage Apr.Y 3, 1951 2,562,359 Iredell July 31, 1951 2,649,300 Launderk Aug. 1,8, 1953 2,684,847 Barden July 27,V 1954 Drum Jan. 17, 1956 

